"Fables" can be hit and miss, and looking at the table of contents this looked to be one for the second category. Thankfully, I was mistaken.

The four-part "Sons Of Empire" Arc is basically a clever way to depict two massive battles, without there being actual consequences. Along the way more mythical characters are introduced (none of them frivolously), and in between the parts/chapters we get short slices of life from other Fables which lighten the mood.

You might be tempted to skip the Christmas tale, but it is quite amusing -- and on top of that it is part of the ongoing storyline. We then learn more about Bigby Wolf's father in the two-parter "Father And Son", and the book ends with a collection of short (one/two-page) illustrated answers to several readers' questions.

Yes, the story is fragmented, and clearly this volume spends more time talking about possible scenarios and setting up future plots, but in this volume it works. One minus point however is the artwork for "Father And Son" which is quite frankly below par. ( )

I liked this volume. Not as action-packed as the previous few but I loved the build up of the empire's plans for our world. Is it bad that frequently when I read evil plans to destroy our world I get really excited about them? ( )

This volume marks my 20th anniversary as a professional comic artist, which seems like the perfect moment to thank those who were with me at the beginning. My old Stoke gang: Dribbs, Yok, Drew, Chris Ski and especially Shane Oakley and Matt Brooker. The Best of Friends. The Best of Times. This is also for Neil Gaiman. The Best of Best Men.

— Mark Buckingham

This volume is dedicated to Steve Graves, treasured old ghost.

— Bill Willingham

First words

That summer there was a great fire in the restricted hills, northwest of the Imperial City.

Wikipedia in English (2)

"Pinocchio suffers seriously divided loyalties between his father, the evil Adversary, and his fellow Fable refugees in New York. Plus, Bigby Wolf reluctantly decides it's finally time to square accounts with his long-estranged father, the North Wind, and makes a journey with Snow White and their kids to find him" -- from publisher's web site.… (more)